DECEMBER 2012 1

fellow workersnews from around the presbyterian church of victoria

Editor Chiara Bilyj ed.fellowworkers@gmail.com www.fellowworkers.pcvic.org.au Vol. 9 No.4 Dec 2012

DOUBLE CELEBRATION IN BENDIGO

Deadline for next edition:

1 February

SundayOctober28wasthecauseformuchrejoicingatBendigo(StJohn’s)ontwofronts!First,readersoffellow workers

mayrememberthattheJune2012editioncarriedsomenewsabouthowtermiteshadstalledourmuchneededandlongawaitedrenova-tions,andthatthecongregationwasaskingforprayerthatthetermiteswouldgo.Well,theydidgo(thankyouforpraying),therenova-tionscommencedinJulyandwere

Above left: the PCV’s new Moderator Rev David Palmer with his wife Chris.

completedandopenedonSundayOctober28th,debtfreeandwithmuchrejoicingandthanksgiving!Duringtheserviceourthanks

wereexpressedtotheMinistry

DevelopmentCommitteefortheirCapitalGrant,thePresbyteryofNorthWesternVictoriaforaccesstothefundsfromthesaleofthe

Beltana Abuzz

Page 6

Fifty years in ministry

Page 3

PYV East camp: the brightest camp

everPage 2

Introducing God in Drouin

Page 5

Eltham: building and

buildingPage 4

DAVID PALMER: OUR NEW MODERATOR

OntheeveningofMonday8October,theRevDavidPalmerwasinductedasModeratorofthePresbyterianChurchofVictoriaforthenext12months.

MostrecentlyDavidwasCon-veneroftheChurchandNationCommitteewithanextensivewritingandlobbyingministry,par-ticularlyinrelationtoGovernmentlegislationinwhichtheChurchhasaninterest:religiousfreedom,

Continued page 4

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The End of the World

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abortion,surrogacy,marriageandsoon.Davidchosethestoryof

thefatherwithtwosonsfoundinLuke15astheScripturetoexpoundathisinduction.AtthefollowingModerator’sReception,DavidreflectedontheChurch’sexperienceinthethirty-fiveyearssincemostVictorianPresbyteriancongre-gationsmovedintotheUnitingChurch,drawingaparallelbetweentheprodigalsonandthePresbyterianChurch.Hewentontosay:‘Wehavehadourfairshare

ofbustupsanddisappointmentsovertheinterveningyears,but

FELLOW WORKERS

Whenwilltheworldend?WhatdoyouknowaboutthereturnofJesus?WhatdoestheBiblesay?ThisSeptember,Prof.Douglas

MilnetravelledtoMooraboolPres-byteriantoexaminethetopicofJesus’return.ThisspecialserieswaspartofMoorabool’smissiontoknowChristandmakehimknown.Prof.MilneisformerprincipalofVictoria’sPresbyterianTheologicalCollegewherehelecturedinvari-oussubjects,includingtheology.Duringtheworshipserviceandaf-ternoonlecture,Prof.MilneturnedtotheScripturesforapracticalexaminationofthereturnofJesus.Heconcludedthatthesecond

comingofJesuswon’tmakeanysenseunlessyouunderstandhisfirstcoming.Jesuscametoatoneforsinand

imputehisrightstandingbeforeGodtoallthosewhotrustinhim.HereturnedtoheaventoprepareaplaceforhispeopleandtoactivelyintercedeforthembeforeGod.Hissecondcomingmeanshewillappearagaintojudgeeve-ryoneandgatherhispeople.Prof.Milne’sapplicationwastoknowthisJesusinapersonalwayandtotrustinhisworkonthecrossasthecentraleventinsalvationhistory.

Rev Jeremy Dovermooraboolchurch.org

In2012,Hawthorn,sadly,didnotwintheAFLgrandfinal.Itisn’tallbadnewsthough.In2012thefirstEastCampheld

byPresbyterianYouthVictoria(PYV)tookplace.Which,let’sbehonest,hadafarbetterresult!Withacampthemeencourag-

ingpeopletocrackoutneonpink,greenandyellow–anidealov-inglyembracedbycampconvener

TiaWishart–EastCamp2012wasacompletesuccess.Armedwithaspraycanofpinkhairdyeandboundlessen-ergy,Tia,togetherwithhardworkingandencouragingassistantconvenerNicBilyj,servedthecampersandlead-erswithjoy.Thisenergytranslated

intothevibeofthecamp,andlikeaveryrelaxed,well-oiledmachine,EastCampranwithoutahitch,withtonsoffunandfellowshipand,ofcourse,fluoro.ThegreatesttriumphofPYV’s

newestcampwasmostcertainlytherelevantandaccessibleseriesoftalksgivenbyReverendBenJohnson,fromWarrnamboolPres-byterianChurch.Encompassingall

The camp everbrightestfourChaptersofPhilippians,withaemphasisonJoyandPurposeinChrist,thecombinationofBen’stalksandstudiesworkedtoencouragethoseoncamptoshinelikestarsforGod,focusingonfol-lowingJesus’perfectexample.ThesmallestcampPYVhas

heldforalongtime,EastCampwasaneyeopeningexperiencefortheleadershipteam.Withsmallernumberscamegreateropportunitiestosharewithothers,andnewrelationshipsflourishedaseveryonewasforcedinsidebyinclementweather!Withalotofnewfaces–bothcampersandleaders–EastCampbroughtpeoplefromtheEasternPresbyte-rianChurchesofVictoriatogether,rangingfromClayton,toElwood,toBundoora,toFrankston,toDrouin,andmore.Humanfooseball,aglowinthe

darkdiscoandfunnyanticscaughtonvideoweredefinitehighlightsofthethreedaycamp,withtheAFLGrandFinalbetterforgottenbyallthosecheeringontheHawks.Thankstoalltheleadersand

camperswhoseopenheartsandenthusiasmmadethecampsospecial.AllIcansayisthatEastCamp2013hasalottoliveupto!

Ashleigh HaugheyEast Camp Leader

from Donvale Presbyterian Church

TheweatheratEastCampmaynothaverequiredsunglasses,butthefluorocostumessuredid!

Summer prayer• PYV Summer camp27 December–1 January 2013 PrayforconvenerJamesVenning,thespeakerRevBrianHarveyandtheleadershipteam.PraythatliveswillbetransformedbyJesus.• Engage’13 25th–28th January 2013AskGodtousethisnewconferenceforhisglorybyspreadinggreatBibleteachingviayouthleaderstoVicto-rianteenagers.PrayfortheEngage committeeandstrandleaders.• Christmas Outreach and Beach missionsPrayforGod’skingdomtogrowandhisfametobespreadthroughtheholidayperiod!

The End of the World

DECEMBER 2012 3

ThefirstPYVNorthCampthisyearwasheldatCampaspeDownsoverthe

The camp ever How well do you know the team coach?

firstweekendoftheschoolholidays.Thecamptalks

weretitled‘TeamJesus’andgivenbyRevHeathEastonfromthelettertothePhilippians.TherunningthemeofthecampwastheOlympics.Therewere50

campersagedbe-tweentwelveand

twenty-one,withtwenty-sixlead-ers,andtwoawesomecooks–whofedustillwepopped!

‘Olympiccostume’meantverydifferentthingstodifferentpeopleatNorthCamp!

TheVeryRevDrAllanHarmanwasordained50yearsago(March1962)inthePresbyterianChurchofEasternAustralia,Geelong.Hisfather,RevJosephHarman,

tookpartintheservice,asdidRevEdwinLee.InOctoberthePres-byteryofGeelongpresentedAllanwithaframedcertificatemarkingthismilestone.ItwaspresentedbyRevDarren

Fifty years in ministry

Itwasajam-packedweekendfullofgreattalksaswewerechallengedbyHeathto‘GetintotheteamSpirit’and‘Gettoknowtheteamcoach(Jesus)’andfinallytaught‘WhatittakestobeinTeamAllstar!’Weenjoyedarelaxedatmospherewherewegottogettoknoweachotherandbuiltonpreviousfriendships,andloadsofwannabeOlympicchallenges!

Shady MehanniCamp Convenor

Middleton,Modera-torofPresbytery,atasupperfollow-ingthecombinedReformationDayServiceheldthisyearattheChristianReformedChurch,GeelongWest.DarrenspokeofDrHarman’soutstandingcontributiontobiblicalscholarship,hispastoralcareoftheologicalstudents,hisfaithfulparishministryandhis

graceindealingwithpeoplefromallwalksoflife.HealsospokeofthevitalcontributionAllan’swifeMairihasmade,bothinsup-portingAllan,andasascholarinherownright.OnbehalfoftheReformedTheologicalCol-lege,RevDrStephenVoorwindeexpressedwarmappreciationofAllan’stimelecturingtherebeforehisappointmentasPrincipalofthePresbyterianTheologicalCollege,Melbourne.

Rev Peter Orchard

FELLOW WORKERS

Aftersteadygrowthovermanyyears,ElthamPresby-terianChurch(EPC)neededtoexpandouraudi-torium.Firstwehadtocreate

moreparkingspacestomeetCouncilregula-tions.Thisstartedajourneyofprayerandplanning.Aftersometime,a

blockoflandbackingontoourhallwaspur-chased.Wethenstartedtheprocessofplans,permits,andbuilding.Wenowhavetwenty-

threenewcarspaces,asixty-threeseatexten-siontoourauditoriumandanewfoyer.Theextensionprojectwascompletedin2009andthereisnowseatingforover200people.Weareverygratefulfortwogifts

fromtheMinistryDevelopmentCommittee.Nowthedoorhasopenedfor

thenextphaseofbuilding–hiring

asecondpaidworker!WeprayasecondworkerwillhelpusasweseektohaveagrowinggospelinfluenceforJesus.

Therearethreepo-tentialrolesthispersoncouldfill.Atpresentwecanofferaparttime,three-to-fourdaysperweekappointment.Ourplanisforittobecomea

full-timeposition.Wearesearch-

ingforsomeonewhoisenergeticandoutgoing,hasnaturalpeopleskills,iscommittedtoteamministry,andhasadesiretotrainothers.Ordinationisnotrequired.Sucha

personcouldfilloneofthreeministryroles:

1.OutwardCommunityFocus,2.OperationalInwardFocus,or3.

Family,Youth&Women’sFocus.Alongerjobdescriptionandappli-

cationformcanbefoundontheweb:eltham.pcvic.org.au/News.html.

Rev Don ElliottEltham Presbyterian Church

Eltham: Building and building

OnSunday23rdSeptember2012,NooratPresbyterianChurchwasgracedwiththepresenceofDavidandGaeMcDonald.DavidandGaewererecently

appointedPresbyterianInlandMission(PIM)padrestotheJohnFlynnPatrolinSouthAustralia.AfterattendingthecentenaryserviceatScotsChurchinMel-bourneonSaturday,theydrovethe‘short’distancetoNoorat.Justtoputitintoperspective,theJohnFlynnpatrolisslightlysmallerthanVictoriainlandsize,soMelbourne

toNoorat(202km)isnotfaratall!Wewerethrilled

tohearoftheirworkandhowtheLordpreparedthemforthisminis-

try.Therewasaflurryofactivityasseveralmenwantedtogo

withtheMcDonalds–adreamthatmaywellberealized.TwopreviousNooratministers

alsoservedaspadres.OneofthosewasSirFrancisRolland(1908-1915)whoservedatBel-tana(partoftheJohnFlynnPatrol)beforebeingcalledtoNoorat.Rol-landandFlynnwerecontemporar-ies–RollandmayhaveencouragedFlynntogototheoutback.Itwastremendoustoseethelegacythatcontinuestoday,andthatNoorathadaroletoplayinit.

Rev. Miles FaganNoorat Presbyterian Church

PIM and Noorat–what a mix!

ThenewpadreswithRevMilesFaganinNoorat.

Morespace!Before(smallpicture)andafterrenovations.

Leftcoverimage:TheeldersofStJohn’s:(lefttoright)PhilipBurns,RussGrinter,AndrewKerrandJohnSutherland.

Rightcoverimage:NonagenariansCecShillingandJoyceAdams(bothinwheel-chairs)cuttheribbontoopentherenova-tionsatBendigoPresbyterianChurch.

WycheproofManse,localbuilderRobertPhillips,draftsman/design-erKevinSlater,membersoftheBoardofManagement,congrega-tionandourgraciousGod.Therenovationsnowmeanthatwehaveabrandnewbiggerkitchen,indoortoiletsandaloweredceilinginthehalltoenableheatingandcooling.Ifthatwasnotenough,onthe

sameday,RussGrinterwasalsoordainedandinductedtotheeldershipandcommissionedforchurchplantingworkinSouthEastBendigoin2013.RusshasbeenanAFES(AustralianFellowshipofEvangelicalStudents)staffworkeratLaTrobeUniversityinBendigoforthelast5years.RussandhiswifeAimeehavebygraceseenmuchfruitfromintentionalevan-gelism,discipleshipandpreachingattheChristianUnion.Asaresult,theBendigocongregationhasenjoyedreapingthefruitoftheirlabour!SessionhassetinplaceaplantoplantanewchurchinBendigoclosertotheUniversityandthishasbeendonewiththeapprovalofthePresbytery,fund-ingfromtheChurchPlantingCommiteeandthecommendationoftherecentGeneralAssembly.WorkissettobegininearnestinJanuary.GiventhattheBendigocongre-

gationisstillonlyamediumsizedchurch(lessthan80communicantmembers),wefeelthatweare‘punchingaboveourweight’withthesenewdevelopments.ButweareawarethatwithallthatGodhaspromisedandblesseduswithinrecentdays,andaswecontinuetoseekHiminprayer,HisWordwillachievethepurposesforwhichHehassentit(Isaiah55:11).Rejoicewithus!Beencouraged!

Rev. Philip Burns

DoublecelebrationinBendigoContinued from page 1

DECEMBER 2012 5

Continued from page 1

David Palmer: our new Moderator

WhatablessingtoseeGodatworkdrawingpeopletohimselfthoughtheIntroduc-ing Godcourse.Ourchurchfamilyrejoices

thattwomencametoknowGodbytrustinginJesusduringthiscourse.PraiseGodthathedesiresthatnoneshouldperish,butthatallshouldcometohiminrepentanceandbesaved!PraiseGodthatheismightytosaveandthatheisactiveindoingso!DrouinPresbyterianChurch

hostedtheIntroducing God courseovernineweeks.Itisa

greatcoursedesignedtohelpourchurchesreachoutwiththegospel.Participantssharedamealtogether,watcheda20-30minutetalkonDVD,anddiscussedthetalksinsmallgroups.TheDVDtalksbyDominicSteelearefaithfulinpresentingthegospelmes-sageandgiveanexcellentoverallpictureofGod’splanofsalvationthroughthebible.Followingthe‘2WaystoLive’gospeltract,theeightBibletalksmakeitclearthattheonlywaywegettoknowGod,andcometohavearelationshipwithhim,isthroughJesus.Wehadagroupofaboutfifteen

peoplecomealongeachweek.ThiswasamixofChristianswiththeirnon-Christianfriends.Ourguestsalllistenedintentlytothetalksandenjoyedtheadditionalmultimediaclipsthataccompanied

these.Groupdiscussionswereopenandcomfortableandourguestscommentedthattheyfeltabletoaskanyquestionstheyhadandtoexpresstheirownopinionsfreely.Wehopetousethisgospeltool

againinthefutureaslongasGodholdsopenthiswindowofopportu-nityandcontinuestouseittodrawpeopleintoasavingrelationshipwithhim.IfyouwouldliketotalkabouthowthiscoursemightworkinthecontextofyourlocalchurchpleasecontactHeathEastonon0432088373oratheatheaston@hotmail.com,orcheckouthttp://introducinggod.christiansintheme-dia.org.

Rev. Heath EastonAssistant Minister

Drouin Presbyterian Church

justastheprodigalsonleftthesethingsbehindinthediscoveryofhisFather’sloveandunconditionalacceptance,soIthinkitisgoodtoremindourselvesofsomeofthepositiveoutcomesofremainingPresbyterian.Well,whatarethesearethese

positiveoutcomesthatwethankGodfor?1.Therejectionofatheological-

lyliberal,biblicallyuncertainpast,andinitsplacethedevelopmentoftheologicaleducationthatisbibli-callyandconfessionallybound.2.Thereinvigorationofoldes-

tablishedchurchesthathadfallenonhardtimes,withstillmoretobedoneinthisregard.3.Theplantingofnewchurches

-whilstnotallhavesurvived,manyhaveblossomed.4.Theretentionofyoungpeople

inthechurchwhomarryandintheirturnhavechildren,contratheChurch’sexperienceinthe1960sandintothe1980s–amajorposi-tivefactor.5.Thetrulyamazingnumber

ofmissionariesthatadenomina-tionofjustunderseventhousandSundayattendeessupports–thirty

missionarycouplesandsin-gles,orfifty-eightpersonsincludingthechildren.6.Incontrasttodeclines

ofbetween15%and20%since2000beingreportedbyanumberofmainlinedenominations,weknowthatourownattendancesoverthesameperiodhaveincreasedslightly.Notonlysobuttheaverageageacrossallourcongregationshadactu-allyfallenonmycalculationsby3yearsbetween1995and2011.WhenIreferredtothereturnto

ourbiblicalandconfessionalherit-age,thisofcourseisextraordinar-ilycountercultural.Weliveinatimewhenoutright

contemptisdisplayedtowardourforebearswho,forexample,wereinnodoubtandforverygoodrea-sonsknewthatmarriageinvolvedamanandawomanwhowouldprovideahomeforthemselvesandtheirchildren.TheEnglishphilosopherEd-

mundBurkelivedatthetimeoftheFrenchRevolution.Henotedtheself-righteouscontemptoftherevolutionariestowardstheiran-cestors,customsandinstitutions,

andwrotethatsocietyisapartner-shipnotonlybetweenthosewhoareliving,butbetweenthosewhoareliving,thosewhoaredeadandthosewhoaretobeborn.Ibelievethisisaprofoundly

biblicalunderstanding.TotheextentthatIhaveanycontributiontomaketotheChurchoverthenextyear,itwillbetoreinforceandencouragetheappreciationandapplicationofourheritagetoday,evenasweseektobearwitnesstotheLordJesusinourworship,insharingthegospelwithfellowAustraliansandspeakingupforgoodandgodlywaysinthepublicdomainwhere,makenomistake,wewillrefusetobesilenced.’

Rev. David PalmerModerator

Presbyterian Church of Victoria

FELLOW WORKERS

ThetinytownshipofBeltanawasabuzzoverthefirstweekendofOctoberwhenhundredsofvisitorsfromalloverAustraliaconvergedonthesmallcountrytown.Tomarkthecentenaryofthe

foundingoftheAustralianInlandMission(AIM),thelocalcommunityandtheirProgressAssociationplannedaweekendofactivities.Nearlyallaspectsofthetownwereopenedtothepublicinclud-ingthebakery,railwaystation,BeltanaStationandtheSmithofDuneskMissionchurchbuilding(picturedabove).Amidthehiveofactivitytherewerenumerousstaticdisplays,bookswerelaunchedandwalkingtoursconducted.ThePIMsetupadisplayand

aninformationtablebehindthehistoricSmithofDuneskMission.StephenDyerwaspresentfortheweekendandsoldcopiesofthe

PIM’sCommemorativeCoffeeTablebook,Views Beyond the Furthest Fence.OnSundaymorningnearlytwo

hundredpeoplegatheredatthehistoricchurchwhereaspecialservicewasconducted.Insidethechurchwasstandingroomonlyandmanyhadtoremainoutsideintheshadeofatreeoronwhateverseatingwasavailable.Thosegatheredwerewelcomed

byDavidMcDonald,thePIMPadrefortheFlynnPatrolinSouthAustralia.TheservicewasledbyRevStuartBonningtonandthesermonwaspreachedbytheRtRevDavidJones,ModeratoroftheGeneralAssemblyofAustralia.HismessagewasbasedonthetextemblazonedonthebackofthechurchfromIsaiah55:6,‘SeekyetheLord’.DavidcalledonallpresenttoacknowledgetheforgivenessofpersonalsinastheirgreatestneedandtocallontheLordJesusChristwhoisabletoforgiveandrestore.Thereisnodoubtthatthelocal

residentsareproudoftheirclosehistoricassociationwiththeRevDrJohnFlynn.Priortotheweek-end’sactivities,RonJohnsonandateamoflocalvolunteersbuiltacairnthatwasasprominentinthetownshipasitwasimpressiveinitsconstruction.Wordingontheplaquecom-

memoratedthefoundingofthe

AIMbythePresbyterianChurchofAustraliawiththeRevDrJohnFlynnasitsfirstsuperintendent.Atthebottomoftheplaqueafavour-iteverseofFlynn’swasrecorded;‘SeektheLORDwhilehemaybefound;callonhimwhileheisnear.’Afterextendingthankstothe

localresidentsofBeltanaandacknowledgingthefinecrafts-manshipintheconstructionofthecairn,MartindePylerecalledsomeofthepersonalqualitiesofJohnFlynnbeforeheunveiledtheplaquetotheapplauseofthosegathered.Located540kmnorthofAd-

elaideand240kmnortheastofPortAugusta,BeltanawastheremotetownthattheRev.JohnFlynnwenttoin1911whenhegraduatedfromTheologicalCol-lege.MoreplansareinplacetocontinuetherestorationofthehistoricSmithofDuneskMission,andlocalshaveexpressedinterestinregularservicesresumingthere.Anabridgedtranscriptofthe

sermonandorderformsforViews Beyond the Furthest Fence canbefoundatpim.org.au.

Rev Martin de PyleChairman

PIM Centenary Celebration Committee

Beltana Abuzz

The Smith of Dunesk Mission Church building was overflowing

as the community and visitors gathered for a special

centenary service.

‘Nearly all aspects of the town were opened to the public including the bakery, railway station, Beltana Station and the Smith of Dunesk Mission church building.’

DECEMBER 2012 7

TheindomitablemanofvisionOnecenturyago,theRevJohnFlynnwasappointedSuperintendentofthenewlyformedAustralianInlandMission.Thisisthethirdoffivearticles,bytheRevRobertBenn,continuingthestoryofthelifeandministryofoneofourownwhosefaithandservicewemustnotforget.Toreadpreviousinstalmentsofthisstory,downloadtheJuneandSeptembernewslettersfromourwebsite.

Continued overleaf

Fivemonths!OnlyfivemonthsforJohnFlynntoprepareanddeliverareportonhowtheChurchshouldbeministeringtothefolkofinlandAustralia.Amassiveundertaking.Sure,hehadhadexperience

fromthewesttotheeastofVicto-ria.Ayearorso’sexperiencefromAdelaidetoOodnadatta.Andhehadoverseenthebuildingofahospital,andsettledintoministrybasedatBeltana.ButthiswasonlyscratchingthesurfaceofknowledgeofAustralia’sinterior.‘GreatGod,I’mreadytostartnow.Pleasehelp!ForChristandthecontinent,’heprayed.Astherailwaytracksstretched

outfarbehindhimintothedeepdistanceofBeltana,hebegantodreamofreportingtotheAs-semblyinSeptember1912.Adelaide.Melbourne.Sydney.

Brisbane.ThursdayIsland.Dar-win.BathurstIsland.Katherine.Maranboy,whereMrsAnaeusGunnof‘WeoftheNeverNever’lostherhusband.Itwassuchalongandarduoustrip,observing,makingnotes,formulatingvision.ThenbacktoSydney.RevJohnFergusonwas

responsibleformailingtheWhiteBook,andtimewasrunningout.‘Ihaven’tfinishedthereport,sir,’saidJohn.‘LetmereaditandI’llsee

whatwecando,’wasthereply.WhenFlynnarrivedatFerguson’sofficethenextday,Fergusonwaseffusiveincommendationoftheslightlyunfinishedreport.‘Thisisnotanormalreport.Thisisalivingdocument.’Beforelong,itwenttothe

commissionersfortheAssembly,

andthenacrossthenation!GeneralAssembly,1912.Flynn

presentedhiscaseforministrytotheisolatedfolkoftheinland.Hetoldthestoriesoftragedy,loneliness,fear,dread,lackofcommunicationanddistance.Hespokeoftheneedforliterature,medicalcare,gospelministries,andtransport.Hesetoutapatternforcottagehospitalsandpatrolministries.AndheshowedtheAs-semblypictoriallyhowthesemin-istriescouldbeeffected.RevProfLaurenceRentoulcommendedFlynnforhis‘diligence,careandability’,andwithstandingovationRevJohnFlynnwasappointedSuperintendentoftheAustralianInlandMissioninSeptember1912,

abodywithinthechurchthatwould‘contributetothegeneralwelfareofthebushsettlers.’Weknowfrompresentday

experiencethatyoucan’trunaprogramsuchaswasproposedbyFlynntotheAssemblywithoutmany,many

helpers.Hetalkedaboutcottagehospitalsandpatrolministries!Withgreatvisionandardour,heappealedforordainedministerstocomeforwardtovolunteerfortheworkofpatrolpadres.Notlongbefore,therehadbeenastandingovationinresponsetohisprofessionalismandvision.Nowastrangesilenceseemedtodescend.UntilBrucePlowmancame

forward.‘No,I’mnotanordainedminister,butIhavehadexperi-enceinSSteaching,youthworkandinhomemissions.I’macountryman.Icanrideahorse.Iknowtherearesixsenses!AndIcanblazethetrailforothers.’Bemused,oneoftheBoard

membersenquired,‘So,Plowman,what’sthesixthsense?’‘Horsesense,sir!’Hewasappointedthefirstpa-

trolpadretotheSouthernPatrol.FlynnandPlowmanheadedtoBeltana.ThisprovedtobeamajorculturaladjustmentforBruce.Allexperienceswerewaybeyondhis‘sixsenses’.Heseemedlackinginenthusiasmaboutthewholebusi-nessofministryininlandAustralia.Littlebylittle,FlynnturnedPlow-man’sthinking,untilinhismind’seyehecouldseetidystreets,families,andeffectivecarefortheinlandfolk.Andthenhewasofftoexplorehisfieldofministry…thesizeoftheUnitedKingdom!MeanwhileFlynnwastravelling

too.Exploring,observing,listeninganddreaming.Andfromhisownexperienceofprayer,encouragingothersintheseterms:‘Donotprayfortasksequaltoyourpowers.Prayforpowersequaltoyourtasks.’Herodecamels,spokeoftheir

HughVictorMcKaycontributedgreatlytotheestablishment of the ‘Aerial Medical Serv-ice’–nowtheRoyalFlyingDoctorService.

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‘cantankerousnature’anddreamedof‘motorbuggies’.Hesawthesandthatcouldburyanythinginitspath,anddreamedof‘lesseningthefearandtheterrorofloneli-ness’.HewasstrandedattheDiamantinariver,andseeingthecockatoosflyover,anddelight-ingintheirfreedomofmovement,hedreamedofan‘aerialmedicalservice’.All‘ForChristandthecontinent’,hismotto.‘Howtoimprovetheministry?’

washisconstantexerciseofmind.HehadpreviouslyvisitedJeannieGunninMelbournewhohadenteredthoughtfullyintothedevelopmentofvision.Aftermuchdiscussion,Jeannieconcluded,‘Youhavetocombinethemedical,thesocialandthespiritualintooneministry.’Itwasn’ttoolongbeforecottagehospitalswerespringingup,mostlywithabackgroundoftragedy.Patrolpadresweresettledinto

theirroundsofitinerantgospelministriesintheKimberleys,thePilbara,theNorthernTerritoryandtheSouthernandCentralpatrols.AMailLeaguehadbeenestablishedtopromoteagreatermeasureofcommunicationbetweenthecityandtheinland,andliteraturewasbeingsuppliedingreaterabun-

dance.Priortothis,onefellowtoldFlynn,‘Theonlythingwehadtoreadwasthelabelsonjamtins!’Assembliescameandwent.For

theAIMBoard,Flynn’svisionary

approachtoinlandministrywasdifficulttocopewith.Hewasrun-ningfaraheadofthem.Andthencamethe‘Wartoendallwars’–1914-1918.Tensionsranhighbetween

theSuperintendentandtheBoardunderwhichheserved.Hissecre-tary,MissJeanBaird,encouragedhimtostayawayfromtheBoarduntilthemoodchanged.So,inhisnewlyacquired1924DodgeBuckboard,heheadedforAliceSpringstofinishbuildingthehospital.Hisdreamingforthebettermentoflifefortheinlanderscontinued,andhisvisionexpanded.Hetalkedofthedesperateneedforanaerialmedicalservice.Whenthehospitalwascompletedandthedustsettledonthecelebrations,he

wasinformedthathisveryclosecolleagueHughVictorMcKayofSunshineHarvesterCompanyhaddied.Whatgrief.Butitwasn’tallbadnews.HV

McKayleftabequestof£2000tocontinuetheresearchintothepossibilityofestablishingtheAerialMedicalService,and£2000perannumifprogresscontinued.ThoughtheBoardhadnotgivenanyencouragementtopressondownthistrack,withthebequestfromMcKay,theBoardreluctantlywrote,‘IfHVMcKaybelievesit’sworthwhile,theBoardfeelstheremustbesomethinginit!’Furthermore,Flynn’slong-time

friendHudsonFyshwasworkingtowardsmovingpeopleandgoodsaroundthecountryviatheQueens-landandNorthernTerritoryAerialService(QANTAS).KeithandRossSmithflewfromEnglandtoAus-tralia.AndCharlesKingsfordSmithhassavedachildfromtheCarnarvonarea(‘TragedyCorner’)usinganaeroplane.SoFlynnpub-lishesintheThe Inlander maga-zine,‘FlyingDoctor,whynotnow?’Sowesitontheedgeofour

seats,gazingintothefuturewithFlynn,attemptingtoenvisagewhatwouldbecomehismission,‘ForChristandtheContinent.’

Rev Robert Benn

Theindomitablemanofvision

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Left:HudsonFysh.Right:Fysh,Flynn’sfriendandfounderofQANTAS,standsinanAvro504K,awarsurplusaircraftusedbyQANTASinitsearliestdays.

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